Born in Chicago on February 13, 1936, into a family of devoted Cubs fans, Larry's love for baseball began at an early age. His father had played on the first US. Softball Association Championship team in 1933, further fueling his passion for the game. Larry played baseball in the Chicago Public League from 1950 to 1952 before graduating from Coe College in 1956. From 1957 to 1958, he taught and coached freshmen baseball in Cedar Rapids, then served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1961, where he both played for and coached the baseball team. Following his military service, he embarked on a long career in physical education, teaching in Park Ridge and River Forest from 1963 to 2004. Since 1990, he has been a valued member of the Oak Park and River Forest High School baseball program, serving as head freshmen coach, head sophomore coach and assistant varsity coach - a role he continues to hold today.
Interested in joining the OPRF Baseball Coaching staff?
Level TBD
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https://www.applitrack.com/d200/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Athletics
On behalf of the entire OPRF Baseball program both current and former players/families, we want to thank Coach Pappalardo as he steps away from a coaching role in the program. For 17 dedicated years, Coach Pappalardo has been an instrumental force behind the Huskies' success. His 14 seasons at the Sophomore level established the non-negotiable foundation of our program, ensuring every player was fundamentally ready to compete at the Varsity level.
His unmatched dedication, passion for the game, and constant commitment to bringing new, innovative ideas to OPRF Baseball have left an indelible mark. Thank you, Coach, for your tireless work and for shaping generations of Huskies both on and off the field. Although Coach Pappalardo will be leaving the dugout, he does plan to help the baseball program in a scouting role.
2025 SEASON
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